Created 1959 Architect Brown,Charles; Et al. Area 3 ha Year built 1940 | Nearest city Ketchikan, Alaska NRHP Reference # 70000916 Phone +1 907-247-8574 Added to NRHP 27 October 1970 | |
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Location Milepost 10 of the N. Tongass Rd. Ketchikan Gateway Borough, Alaska, USA Operated by Alaska Department of Natural Resources Address Tongass National Forest, 9883 N Tongass Hwy, Ketchikan, AK 99901, USA Hours Open today · 7AM–6PMMonday7AM–6PMTuesday7AM–6PMWednesday7AM–6PMThursday7AM–6PMFriday7AM–6PMSaturday7AM–6PMSunday7AM–6PMSuggest an edit Similar Totem Heritage Center, Saxman Native Village, Potlatch Totem Park, Dolly's House Museum, Misty Fiords National | ||
Ketchikan totem bight state historical park clan house
Totem Bight State Historical Park is a 33-acre (13 ha) state park in the U.S. state of Alaska. It is located north of Ketchikan.
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Description and history
The park is located on the former site of a traditional Native campground. It contains a collection of totem poles and a replica of a traditional chieftain's house. This wood-frame structure has a low oval entrance, leading into a square chamber with a central fire pit, decorated with carved "house posts". A stylized raven adorns the main facade. The carvings on the house were executed by Charles Brown, a Native from Saxman.
The United States Forest Service used Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) funds to hire skilled carvers from among the older Native Alaskans to repair or duplicate totem poles that were abandoned when the natives moved to communities where work was available. The CCC project built the community house and placed 15 totem poles, most of them replicas of 19th-century poles. At statehood in 1959, title to the land passed from the federal government to the State of Alaska.
The site was added to the National Register of Historic Places on October 27, 1970.